Review Summary: we're tired and bored
Every little victory don’t matter if nobody seems to care.
Coming out of 2017 and into the new year, Jeff finds himself on the comedown from the sugar highs of
WORRY. The optimism that permeated even the bleakest spaces of that record are clouded here. In many ways,
POST- works quite beautifully as the antithesis to
WORRY. For every moment of dumbass cheer and love on the latter, another of crushing realization and feelings of uselessness present themselves in the former. There’s just something about the way the man sings about not being able to anything of impact or not talking to anybody in a month that just hits hard. Jeff poured his heart onto his sleeve on
WORRY. Here, we see that very same heart that has been weathered day after day over the course of the last two years.
There’s nothing left we can do right now.
Synths have always played a good part in Jeff’s solo work. Rather than the sugary and bouncy melodies of
WORRY. and
We Cool?, however, they are used to a much more mellow and melancholy effect on
POST-. Whether it’s on the songs “USA” or “Let Them Win”, the synths are sprawling epics that drench every crevice of your speakers or headphones. These epics turn what are normally three-minute bangers into eleven-minute operas. “9/10” is easily the best example of this new direction. Guitars are barely present in the track until the end, allowing a drum and synth beat drift the listener to a much different soundscape than Jeff has ever released. The whole song is a bittersweet and sentimental journey that shows a tired and emotionally weak Jeff working his way through a myriad of thoughts and feelings. Rather, the whole album is a retrospective look on Jeff’s thoughts and feelings as he trudges his way through a year that has worn him down to the thread.
I can’t play piano all that well.
POST- has quite a few tricks up its sleeve when it comes to instrumentation. Jeff adds numerous little flourishes throughout each track to the point where even a second listen isn’t enough to them justice. Sure, there are still punk chords aplenty. However, Jeff crafts each song uniquely, forgoing conventional structures and tried-and-true gimmicks and motifs.
POST- is truly like no other album released recently, especially coming from Jeff. According to the liner notes on his Bandcamp, the whole album was recorded and finished a few days before release. 51% minimum was recorded live to tape, truly giving the album the feel of a live show. Does it push the dynamics of rock music? Who knows, but
POST- is a sure fun time to float away to.
you can’t be your best anything when you can’t get any rest.
POST- truly is a great progression from
WORRY. In terms of everything; lyrics, instrumentation, and mood. It comes out of the gate with “USA”, an oddball seven minute stream of consciousness that turns into an atmospheric, huge, and truly grand chorus. “All This Useless Energy” and “Powerlessness” share similar sentiments but come at you at different angles. “All This Useless Energy” is a slower jam, taking its time filling out the space it gives itself. “Powerlessness” is a catchy and high tempo punk jam through and through. One of the biggest highlights here without a doubt is “Let Them Win”. I’ve spent the course of this review trying to tell you how much of a downward curve
POST- takes after
WORRY. “Let Them Win” ends on the most positive note off the album, shaking off all the negativity that came before it. This triumphant and valiant closer takes a good eleven minutes to close out, but it makes use of every second beautifully. It gives a hopeful look to the future past all the bad thoughts and bad vibes from the previous year.
We’re not gonna let them win.
There’s not really much more to say. Jeff has done it again, presenting unto us an album that is truly special and speaks directly to the heart of fans. Releasing
POST- on a holiday where press aren’t as active as they usually are, with no prior announcement or mention, is truly a gift and a surprise to Jeff fans everywhere. As I’m sitting here writing this, I’m itching to get back to my 10th replay of the whole album. We don’t really know what the future holds, but as long as Jeff is here to travel alongside us, everything will be just fine.
We’re not gonna let them win,
*** no.
